Artemis (novel)

Artemis (novel)
source
Name	Artemis
Author	Andy Weir
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction, thriller
Publisher	Crown Publishing Group
Release date	November 14, 2017
Media type	Print (Hardcover), Ebook, Audiobook
Pages	305
Isbn	978-0-553-44812-2
Preceded by	The Martian
Followed by	Project Hail Mary

Artemis (novel). A 2017 science fiction thriller novel by American author Andy Weir, set in the late 2080s in the first and only city on the Moon. The story follows Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara, a young porter and smuggler living in the lunar colony of Artemis, who becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy after accepting a lucrative sabotage job. The novel combines Weir's signature hard-SF approach to problem-solving with a heist-style plot, exploring themes of colonial economics, individual agency, and survival in an extreme environment.

Plot summary

The narrative is set in the lunar city of Artemis, a tourist destination and industrial hub built by the Kenyan space corporation Kenya Space Corporation. Protagonist Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara, a Saudi-born smuggler with a low-status job as a porter, is offered a massive fee by wealthy businessman Trond Landvik to sabotage the robotic harvesters of Alvarez Equipment Corporation, the main supplier of breathable air. Jazz's successful sabotage inadvertently triggers a corporate war between Alvarez Equipment Corporation and Landvik's company, revealing a deeper plot to control Artemis's economy. Jazz, alongside her friend and part-time welder Dale Shapiro, must outmaneuver local gangsters, corrupt administrators, and rival corporations to prevent the city's destruction and expose the conspiracy, ultimately using her engineering skills in a desperate bid to save the colony.

Characters

* Jasmine "Jazz" Bashara: The Saudi-born protagonist, a skilled but underachieving smuggler and porter with a contentious relationship with her father, a respected EVA master. * Dale Shapiro: A geologist and welder, Jazz's only true friend, who provides technical assistance and moral support. * Trond Landvik: A wealthy Norwegian businessman and Jazz's initial client, whose motives are shrouded in secrecy. * Rudy DuBois: The head of Artemis's security, a former Canadian Space Agency employee with a by-the-book attitude who often clashes with Jazz. * Lene Landvik: Trond's intelligent and capable daughter, who becomes a key ally. * Martin Svoboda: A brilliant but socially awkward Scientist specializing in condensed matter physics, who creates valuable lunar contraband. * Ammar Bashara: Jazz's father, a devout Muslim and master EVA suit technician, from whom Jazz is estranged.

Development and publication

Following the massive success of his debut novel *The Martian* and its film adaptation, Andy Weir began developing a new story set in a lunar colony. He conducted extensive research into lunar colonization, economic models for off-world settlements, and the chemistry of oxygen production. The novel was acquired by Crown Publishing Group in a major deal. Audible Studios produced an Audiobook version narrated by actress Rosario Dawson. The book was published in Hardcover and Ebook formats on November 14, 2017.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the novel's inventive world-building, fast-paced plot, and scientifically grounded setting but criticism for its characterization and dialogue. Reviewers in The New York Times and The Guardian noted the detailed portrayal of Artemis's society and infrastructure. The novel debuted at number three on *The New York Times* Best Seller list for Hardcover Fiction. It was nominated for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction.

Themes and analysis

The novel explores the economic and social structures of a corporate-run space colony, examining themes of neo-colonialism and class disparity through the lens of lunar tourism and resource monopolies. Jazz's journey highlights individual agency and redemption against a system of rigid social stratification. Weir also integrates detailed scientific explanations for the colony's life support, dealing with challenges like vacuum, radiation, and ballistics in a low-gravity environment, continuing his style of "hard SF" problem-solving.

Adaptations

Shortly after publication, film rights were acquired by 20th Century Studios (then 20th Century Fox) and Genre Films, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller attached to direct and produce. A screenplay was developed by Lindsey Beer. The project entered development hell following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, and no production date has been set. In 2021, Audible released a full-cast audio drama adaptation as part of its Audible Originals lineup.

Category:2017 American novels Category:American science fiction novels Category:Novels about the Moon Category:Novels by Andy Weir